Some 156 representatives from the 13 municipalities of Benguet province gathered on Aug. 7 in a conference to discuss community issues and concerns on large and destructive mining and share experiences and lessons from successful struggles, which resulted to the formation of the Benguet Mining Alert and Action Network or BMAAN. The conference resulted from…
Tags: mining
Philex ‘Arrogance’ Blamed for Failed Dialogue
The government-set dialogue between the Philex Mining Corporation and the indigenous residents of this town and Itogon failed due to the mining company’s “arrogance,” a community leader said. The dialogue was intended to address issues concerning indigenous communities’ rejection of Philex’s mining permit application. BY LYN V. RAMO Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VII,…
‘Going Down the Drain’
Philippine environmentalists will bring the controversial Lafayette mining project to international forums and ask foreign investors to withdraw as the operation violates environmental standards and local community rights. Bulatlat.com Environmental activists affiliated with the Defend Patrimony! alliance and Kalikasan-Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) Nov. 24 vowed to increase international pressure on mining investors and…
Government’s “30 pieces of silver mentality” Allows Mining Disasters across the Country
We detest the Arroyo government’s rejection of the report of the independent commission investigating the Lafayette mine spills in Rapu-rapu island. Blinded by the glare of mining investments, Arroyo is willing to sell out the environment and patrimony of the country for “30 pieces of silver”. We fear that Arroyo’s message tells mining companies that…
Benguet Corporation Milks Local Miners
Benguet Corporation (BC) earns P15,000 ($267.86 based on a $1:P56 exchange rate) each day or P450,000 a month from “entrance fees” it collects from 1,000 small-scale miners who work its L-070 open pit mine site in Sitio Antamok, Brgy. Loacan in Itogon, Benguet. BY LYN V. RAMO Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com BAGUIO CITY —…
Canadian Mining Firm Driving Subanons Off Their Sacred Land: Siocon’s main water source damaged by erosion from open-pit gold mine
“TVI is not concerned about the spiritual aspect…or the ecological aspect. They are only concerned about the economic aspect. Do they intend to live alone and us to die?” – Gody Galos, Save the Siocon leader. By ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat.com Mt. Canatuan in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte (390 kms. northwest of Davao in southern…